Chapter 1

Chapter 1: He Became a Prominent Figure in Jiangcheng “Lin Zhiqing?” Ever since Lin Meiyan returned to Jiangcheng from her time as a Zhiqing on the island, she hadn’t heard that title for many years. When she heard those two words, she instinctively turned her head to look. Before she could react, a young woman ran over quickly and grabbed her hand, sounding very excited. “Lin Zhiqing, it really is you!” Lin Meiyan nodded. Upon receiving a definite response, the other woman’s eyes widened slightly, filled with a look of disbelief. She stared straight at Lin Meiyan. Lin Meiyan was wearing a blue dress; her skin was delicate, her lips red, and her teeth white. Most striking of all was the indescribable aura of gentleness that radiated from her as she stood there. If the other woman hadn’t found her temperament so outstanding, she might not have recognized her. It really was Lin Zhiqing! Lin Meiyan rubbed her wrist, which had been squeezed red, and looked at the woman’s face. It took a moment for the memory to surface, and she said tentatively, “Qiao Zhiqing?” Her voice was soft and very gentle. Hearing that title, Qiao Qingqing suddenly felt a wave of familiarity. She immediately changed how she addressed her, becoming incredibly enthusiastic. “Meiyan-jie, it’s me.” “Meiyan-jie, you haven’t said—how is it that you’re in Jiangcheng? You probably don’t know, but after you left, everyone back in the bay was looking for you.” Lin Meiyan had vanished suddenly back then. Later, rumors spread that she had processed a medical discharge through the Zhiqing Office, which was how she managed to leave the island. However, not long after she left, a fire broke out in the Zhiqing Office’s archives, and all the records for their batch of Zhiqing who had gone to the countryside were destroyed. There was something eerie about it, but while everyone knew it in their hearts, no one spoke of it. Suddenly hearing about the events of those years, Lin Meiyan’s gentle expression stiffened, carrying a hint of unnaturalness. Qiao Qingqing also realized she had said the wrong thing. She waved her hand. “But it doesn’t matter anymore, Meiyan-jie. You were the first to leave. Later, except for those who stayed there, the rest of us all came back.” “Your matter isn’t so conspicuous anymore.” Lin Meiyan breathed a sigh of relief. Meeting an old acquaintance in a different place was a pleasant surprise after all, and since Linji wasn’t busy at the moment, she turned toward the kitchen to pour Qiao Qingqing a glass of mung bean water. Qiao Qingqing sat on a chair, curiously looking around. “Meiyan-jie, did you open this shop?” Although the shop wasn’t large, it was a case of “the sparrow may be small, but it has all five internal organs”—everything was there, and the menu prices were clearly listed. Lin Meiyan nodded, her voice soft. “Yes, I have to make a living.” Most Zhiqing who returned from the countryside found it difficult to be assigned jobs, and Lin Meiyan was no exception. She had opened Linji for the sake of her livelihood. It was June in Jiangcheng, the peak of the rainy season. A heavy rain was falling outside. Despite it being mealtime, there wasn’t a single person inside Linji. Qiao Qingqing didn’t drink the mung bean water; she just left it on the table. She wasn’t a fool and knew that business was hard to do these days. Looking at everything in the shop, she couldn’t help but sigh. “Meiyan-jie, you’re really amazing. But—” Her tone shifted. “There were eleven of us who went to the countryside together. Besides the two who passed away and the two who married and stayed there, do you know who among the remaining seven is doing the best now?” Lin Meiyan pulled out a chair to sit across from her and looked up. “Who?” “That madman from the cowshed.” Suddenly hearing those words, Lin Meiyan felt a bit dazed. Her face turned pale, and her eyelashes trembled violently. Qiao Qingqing continued to chatter away. “You’ll never guess that the madman had such a powerful background. When his family was rehabilitated, a whole motorcade came to pick him up.” “I even heard that his career is going incredibly well. He’s the most famous ‘diamond bachelor’ for miles around Jiangcheng—no, he should be called a truly prominent figure in our Jiangcheng.” At this point, Qiao Qingqing felt a bit of regret. “If I had known he was so powerful, I would have made my move back then.” Unfortunately, when that madman from the cowshed was on the island, they had avoided him like the plague, terrified of being implicated by association. Consequently, now that he was successful, they didn’t dare to contact him. After all, they had no justification for doing so. Lin Meiyan actually didn’t hear what she said after that. The rain outside was so heavy, drumming against the bluestone slabs along the eaves. The pitter-patter was so constant that for the first time, she, who usually loved the sound of rain, felt it was a bit noisy. Seeing that Lin Meiyan remained silent, Qiao Qingqing paused. she asked tentatively, “Meiyan-jie, did you know that man has been looking for you?” He had looked for her many times. However, by that time, Lin Meiyan had long since left the island and disappeared. The archives at the Zhiqing Office were burned, and the remaining Zhiqing didn’t know where she had gone. And she was perhaps the first person who had left the island to see Lin Meiyan again. Lin Meiyan’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly clenched her knuckles, a bitter and unnatural smile appearing on her face. “I didn’t know.” “And… I’m not familiar with him.” Qiao Qingqing was somewhat disappointed, but seeing Lin Meiyan’s poor complexion, she had the sense to take her leave. Lin Meiyan saw Qiao Qingqing out in a daze. Qiao Qingqing stood at the entrance of Linji, waving her umbrella with a bright smile. “Meiyan-jie, I work at the Jiangcheng Textile Factory. It’s only a half-hour trip from here at Simenkou. Let’s stay in touch from now on!” —It was the joy of meeting an old friend in a new place. In the nine years they spent as Zhiqing on the island, eleven people went. Two died, leaving nine. Two others couldn’t hold out; one married a local man, and one married a local woman. Seven were left. Those seven were the ones who survived and the ones who struggled their way out. The bond between them was naturally different. Lin Meiyan nodded in agreement. “We definitely will.” Once Qiao Qingqing had completely disappeared, the smile on her face vanished as well. She looked quite solemn. She had thought those nine years as a Zhiqing on the island were completely in the past, and she and her daughter had grown accustomed to their current life. Until… Qiao Qingqing’s appearance told her that life on the island was actually like it was only yesterday. For a moment, Lin Meiyan’s heart was in a turmoil. “Meiyan, these are the peach pastries from our biscuit factory. They’re still warm, hurry and try some.” Gu Kaihua braved the rain, tucking the pastries inside his coat, and came running over at full speed. Before he even arrived, his voice reached her. Seeing her uncle, Lin Meiyan forced herself to stand and greet him. Gu Kaihua immediately noticed his niece’s pale face and frowned. “What’s wrong? Did those thugs come to collect protection money again?” Opening a shop wasn’t easy, and it was even harder for a woman. Lin Meiyan had encountered many troubles when she first reopened Linji. But in the end, she had managed to get Linji up and running without any major disasters. However, the thugs at Simenkou who collected protection money were always around. Though the amount wasn’t huge, it was always sickening. Lin Meiyan shook her head. “No.” She pulled Gu Kaihua into the small shop and handed him a towel to wipe off the rain. Gu Kaihua didn’t rush to wipe himself; instead, he handed over the still-warm peach pastries with a look of expectation. “Try one?” Ever since Lin Meiyan returned from the countryside, she had been staying at her uncle’s house. With her uncle’s help over the years, she had been able to raise Qiaoqiao and open Linji. But she also knew that her uncle’s life wasn’t easy. So, facing the peach pastries Gu Kaihua offered, Lin Meiyan just shook her head and said softly, “Uncle, your monthly salary is only so much. Why did you buy peach pastries again?” Gu Kaihua did just as he had when she was young, raising his hand and flicking her forehead with a finger. “Why buy peach pastries? Who else would they be for but this little glutton?” Lin Meiyan was a true Jiangcheng local. As a child, she loved eating peach pastries. Later, when the Lin family met with disaster, she went to the island for nine years. When she returned, her belly was already showing slightly. But she had bound it with white cloth, layer after layer. Back then, when Gu Kaihua saw this, he turned his head away to wipe his tears. Afterward, he overrode all objections and made the final decision. Lin Meiyan lived in the Gu family home, where she spent her pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter, and did her postpartum confinement. It wasn’t until the child was one year old that she opened Linji to find a way forward. Seeing Lin Meiyan wasn’t moving, Gu Kaihua took the initiative to open the brown paper bag. The freshly baked peach pastries still gave off heat and oil stains, soaking through the brown paper, and a sweet aroma wafted out. He took one out and handed it to Lin Meiyan. Lin Meiyan didn’t refuse his kindness, taking it and lowering her head to take a small bite. Gu Kaihua watched her expectantly. “Delicious, right?” Lin Meiyan looked up. “Yes, delicious.” Gu Kaihua rubbed her head and curled the corners of his mouth. “I knew you were fond of these.” “It was worth the trip.” He looked around and naturally began to lift the chairs and stack them on the tables. This was a sign of closing up. Lin Meiyan went to stop him. “Uncle, it’s still early. I want to wait a bit longer.” Gu Kaihua paused. He turned back, the smile on his square face showing disapproval. “It’s going to rain heavily today. Very few people will come out to eat.” “Yanyan, let’s go home.” —Don’t stay at the shop all day long. Lin Meiyan lowered her eyes and didn’t speak. Perhaps the freshly baked peach pastries were too sweet, as her throat felt a bit constricted. She gave a soft “Mm” and then closed the door and locked it. she looked back one last time, somewhat reluctantly. Gu Kaihua held the umbrella and comforted her. “Alright, business is always like this. Some days are good, some are bad. How could every day be good?” “Right?” “Instead of staying at the shop, why not go home? The four of us can play Da Shengji.” Lin Meiyan looked at the time, feeling a bit awkward. “I still have to pick up the child from school.” She wasn’t good at card games because she couldn’t remember the cards and always lost. Gu Kaihua said, “That’s at five o’clock. It’s only one now. There are still four hours.” Lin Meiyan couldn’t argue, so she left with Gu Kaihua. She had opened Linji on the side street of Simenkou in Jiangcheng, which was one of the liveliest areas nearby. If the sun were shining, it would surely be bustling with people. However, once it rained, the area became quiet, and the entire street was empty. The Gu home wasn’t far from Linji. When looking for a shop, Gu Kaihua had specifically chosen one near the house to make it easier to look after her. Leaving the side street of Simenkou and turning left, they arrived in about ten minutes. On the way home, Lin Meiyan glanced at the walled-off courtyard. she was truly curious about who had such deep pockets to wall off half the street outside Simenkou. Lin Meiyan was easy to read, and Gu Kaihua saw it instantly. He explained, “I heard from the neighborhood committee that the area outside Simenkou was bought by Jianghai Dicai.” Lin Meiyan was a bit surprised. She had always been paying attention to Jianghai Dicai because they were the only developer in all of Jiangcheng legally permitted to sell commercial housing. As her daughter grew older day by day, she couldn’t keep living at her uncle’s house forever. Moving out was something that had to happen sooner or later, so she had to make plans early. However, Jianghai Dicai’s houses were too expensive—six hundred yuan per square meter. Lin Meiyan rented the shop for Linji. When business was good, she could make over four hundred yuan a month; when it was bad, she might only have an income of a hundred or so. Although she was doing better than most, it would still take many years to buy a house from Jianghai Dicai. “We can wait for the second phase of Jianghai Dicai’s housing. It’s close by.” Speaking of this, Gu Kaihua’s voice lowered slightly. “If it’s not too expensive, our whole family can pool our money together.” Pool their money for what? He didn’t finish, but Lin Meiyan understood. She said with feigned lightness, “Uncle, I have my own plans regarding buying a house.” At this point, she paused slightly, standing under the umbrella her uncle held, just as she had years ago, being sheltered from the wind and rain by him. She said softly, “Besides, I might not even need to buy a house. If the Linji building can be returned to me through the private property restitution office, then I won’t have to buy one.” “The Linji building has two floors. Just the bedrooms alone—there are three large ones.” She looked at Gu Kaihua with a smile. “When the time comes, I’ll bring you and Auntie to my place for your retirement.” The current Gu family house was too cramped. So many family members were squeezed into a space of just over thirty square meters; it truly wasn’t convenient. Gu Kaihua smiled and didn’t speak. They both knew that the hope of getting the Linji building back was almost non-existent. Linji was an old brand, passed down from Lin Meiyan’s grandfather to her father. Her father was a skilled cook, and relying on his culinary skills, he made the Linji name famous. Business was exceptionally good, and the people who went in and out of Linji were the wealthy and influential. But that was also the source of the trouble. When class statuses were being categorized years ago, Father Lin was labeled a capitalist, and Linji was confiscated. Overnight, Father Lin went from being the respected Boss Lin to a hated “stinking capitalist.” Father Lin couldn’t accept the fall from grace and hanged himself that night. After her husband’s death, Mother Lin locked herself away for a night. Early the next morning, she forced Lin Meiyan to write a letter of disownment. One was for her married daughter, and one was for the sixteen-year-old Lin Meiyan. Using what remained of her money and connections, she sent Lin Meiyan to the harshest island as a Zhiqing. Only then did Lin Meiyan escape the disaster. Mother Lin remained in Jiangcheng alone, and after enduring for three years, she remarried. As for whom she married or how she was living, Lin Meiyan knew nothing at all. Because Mother Lin had completely severed all ties with the past. If there were one remaining link between them, it might be her uncle, but in reality, her uncle didn’t know much either. But she knew that during her hardest times, it was her uncle who had taken her in. In essence, she still relied on the blood relation her mother had left behind to survive. Lin Meiyan’s mind wandered all the way until she reached the biscuit factory’s family dorm building, only then hearing the noise outside. Lin Meiyan’s aunt, Ye Qiuju, was wearing an apron, and her voice reached them before she did. “Old Gu, why are you still keeping the shop open in such heavy rain? Go and pick up Yanyan!” As she spoke, seeing that Lin Meiyan was with her husband, Ye Qiuju’s smile widened. She said to Gu Kaihua, “You aren’t completely stupid, knowing that business at Linji wouldn’t be good with today’s rain and thinking to go pick up Yanyan.” Having been praised, Gu Kaihua smiled proudly. “Of course, don’t you see who I am?” “I, Gu Kaihua, am a master strategist for ten miles around!” “Otherwise, how could I have married the famous Qiuju-mei?” “The child is right here,” Ye Qiuju scoffed and scolded him. “Old shameless!” She turned to look at Lin Meiyan and felt a bit bashful, but more than that, she was struck by her beauty. Even Ye Qiuju couldn’t help but sigh at how well-favored her niece was. Even though she was a mother, her features remained relaxed, her skin fair, and her eyes clear, carrying the gentle grace of a young lady. As a woman herself, she couldn’t help but feel that time had been exceptionally kind to her. Just as it had been to her sister-in-law back then. This was the good looks that ran in the Gu family. Thinking of this, the words on the tip of Ye Qiuju’s tongue changed to, “Our meat processing plant gave out half a pig’s trotter today. Yanyan, how do you want to eat it?” Lin Meiyan shook off the rain from her clothes, and before she could answer, she heard Ye Qiuju’s lioness roar. “Gu Kaihua, I told you to go pick her up, and this is how you do it? Yanyan is covered in water!” “How were you holding that umbrella?” Gu Kaihua shrunk his neck at the yelling. Lin Meiyan spoke up at just the right moment. “Auntie, I stepped out from under it myself. It had nothing to do with Uncle.” With her intervention, Ye Qiuju didn’t scold Gu Kaihua further. Gu Kaihua winked at his niece, his face saying I haven’t doted on you for nothing. In the end, it was Lin Meiyan who cooked the pig’s trotter. As Gu Kaihua ate, he couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s the exact same flavor my brother-in-law used to make.” Linji. Who didn’t miss it? It was once one of the wonders of Jiangcheng. As soon as these words left his mouth, Ye Qiuju slapped him. “Can’t even eating shut your mouth?” Gu Kaihua shrunk his neck again, feeling as though his neck had become so short it couldn’t shrink any more, to the point that his chin was bumping his Adam’s apple. He couldn’t help but argue back, “If you keep hitting me, I’ll turn into a turtle.” Ye Qiuju said, “Even if I don’t hit you, you’re already a turtle.” Watching her uncle and aunt like this, Lin Meiyan’s mood improved quite a bit. She ate a bowl of rice with the sauce from the braised trotter before putting down her bowl. Ye Qiuju was worried. “Why did you eat so little? Don’t worry, I’ve already saved Qiaoqiao’s portion. Once she’s home from school, I’ll heat it up and it’ll still be fresh.” Lin Meiyan’s features were gentle as she said softly, “Auntie, I’m full.” Only then did Ye Qiuju let it go, pouring the remaining sauce into Gu Kaihua’s bowl as if she were feeding a pig, saying, “Piggy, piggy, eat up, eat up.” Gu Kaihua: “…” Lin Meiyan: “…” Lin Meiyan truly couldn’t help but turn away, her shoulders shaking. Gu Kaihua said, “Laugh if you want to laugh.” “Anyway, for all these years, your aunt has always been raising me like a pig.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have put on so much weight. Lin Meiyan couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. When she laughed, the whole room seemed to brighten. Gu Kaihua was stunned for a moment. “Yanyan, you look better when you laugh more.” Lin Meiyan called out with a smile, “Uncle.” “Ay!” By four-thirty in the afternoon, the rain was still falling steadily. Lin Meiyan played Da Shengji with her uncle and aunt. After losing all afternoon, she had completely lost her temper. Seeing that it was time, she took her umbrella and left the Gu home. Wearing a pair of waterproof leather shoes, she tiptoed out of the family dorm area to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. As soon as she left, a neighbor sighed to Ye Qiuju, “Your Meiyan is getting more and more beautiful.” “Haven’t you mentioned letting her find another partner while she’s still young?” “Since you won’t say it, I’d like to mention it—I have a nephew who’s quite a catch. He’d be a perfect match for your Meiyan. If you agree, I’ll arrange a blind date for them.” Lin Meiyan had returned in the autumn of 1984, so she had been back for four or five years. Back then, many people had designs on her because she was so well-born, pretty, and gentle. However, as Lin Meiyan’s belly grew day by day, those people slowly backed off. They were all waiting to see when Lin Meiyan’s man would return. But later, Lin Meiyan had the child, the child grew day by day, and she opened Linji. Her income was quite a bit higher than those who worked regular jobs. And there was no sign of her previous man appearing. Those who had given up began to have designs on Lin Meiyan again. Who could help it, when Lin Meiyan was young and beautiful and had a small shop? It was a money-maker, a goddess of wealth; marrying her would mean living a good life! In the end, even the flaw of having a daughter was like a minor blemish on a piece of fine jade. Ye Qiuju said flatly, “We listen to the child. If she doesn’t want to get married, then we’ll leave it be for now.” The neighbor immediately became anxious, unwilling to let a money-maker slip away, and raised her voice. “How can you do that? That child didn’t come out of your own belly. You raise her like this every day—what about your own children?” The Gu family had three children of their own. Counting Lin Meiyan, that made four! Not to mention, Lin Meiyan had a little one too. Wasn’t that the ultimate case of “bringing baggage”? Ye Qiuju had been holding back, but hearing this, she couldn’t help but curse, “Are they eating your rice?!” Lin Meiyan didn’t know that people in the housing area were trying to set her up again, but even if she had known, she would have just laughed it off. Over the past two years, as the neighbors saw Linji slowly becoming successful, she was used to more than a few people trying to act as matchmakers. She had grown accustomed to it. Thinking of this, she quickened her pace, eager to see the daughter she hadn’t seen all day. When she reached the kindergarten, the entrance, which was usually noisy at dismissal time, was strangely quiet. Surprised, she looked around and saw a black Mercedes-Benz parked at the entrance. It had been washed clean by the rain, radiating a sense of quiet nobility. Lin Meiyan paused. As far as she knew, among all the parents at the kindergarten, the best off were Ding Haohao's family, who had an old, beat-up Santana. But compared to the car in front of her, it was far inferior. Still, no matter whose car it was, it had nothing to do with her.